Article Holder

ABSTRACT

The present invention is designed to allow a user to securely hold a plate of food while walking or while eating in front of the TV. The present invention includes a plate and a hollow tubular base affixed to substantially the center of the underside of the plate. The plate is substantially planar having a well and a lip. The well includes a central circular aperture wherein an open end of the tubular base is affixed to the aperture such that access to the internal volume of the tubular base is provided. The hollow tubular base is designed to receive therethrough a set of utensils or a beverage cup for easy storing. The exterior surface of the tubular base is designed to be held to allow for a user to securely hold the device without fear of tipping the plate over while eating.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/910586 filed on Dec. 2, 2013. The above identified patent application is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety to provide continuity of disclosure.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to food and cup supporting devices while walking or while eating in front of a TV. More specifically, the present invention pertains to an improved article holder that is configured to allow a user to firmly hold a plate of food in a single hand while walking or while not in front of a supporting table. The present invention includes a plate and a hollow tubular base attached thereto and to the underside of the plate. The plate includes a central aperture that provides access to the interior volume of the hollow tubular base for support of items therein. The tubular base provides a handhold for the user to support the assembly.

The traditional family meal is becoming a thing of the past. More and more people are eating their home meals on the sofa while watching television (TV). Especially, during and around dinner time, many popular TV programs are broadcasted and it is easy to slip into a pattern of eating most meals in front of the TV. In a haste to watch their favorite programs, people often purchase prepackaged meals that comes in individual portions that simply requiring reheating by a microwave. Or if dinner was prepared, carrying a plate of food along with utensils, drinks, condiments, or other items may require several trips from the kitchen to a living room or other room with TVs.

In addition, as more and more people are eating their meals on the sofa, it inevitably creates more mess. People use seat cushions as trays or use their laps as trays to eat their meals. It is not hard to imagine crumbs can be spilled everywhere repeatedly. Neither is it hard to imagine that balancing a plate of food on a seat cushion or in one's lap can be burdensome and cause discomfort and mess. Some even use a TV tray table, which is a type of collapsible furniture that functions as a small and easily portable folding table. These small tables are designed to be a surface from which one could eat a meal while watching TV. However, TV tray tables are not always available in one's household.

The present invention provides a practical and inexpensive solution to the aforementioned problems. The present invention is designed to allow a user to securely hold the present invention as he walks and eats in front of the TV. The present invention includes a plate, an upstanding peripheral lip and a central aperture. The plate is substantially planar and the tubular base extends downward from the underside of the plate. The tubular base includes a rounded sidewall, an open upper end, a closer lower end, and an open interior volume. The open upper end is affixed to the central aperture such that items can be placed through the central aperture and into the open internal volume of the tubular base.

Description of the Prior Art

Devices have been disclosed in the prior art that relate to plate and cup support devices. These include devices that have been patented and published in patent application publications. Devices in the art disclose a support for a plate and a beverage container that contains a parallel upper and lower supports and a gripping element. Some other devices disclose a bi-level support having a generally circulate plate support and an opening to receive a cup or glass. These devices, however, disclose a separate device for holding a plate and do not disclose a plate that is attached to a hollow tubular base that is designed to receive therethrough a set of utensils or a beverage cup. The foregoing is a list of devices deemed most relevant to the present disclosure, which are herein described for the purposes of highlighting and differentiating the unique aspects of the present invention, and further highlighting the drawbacks existing in the prior art.

Specifically, U.S. Pat. No. 7,543,869 to Davis discloses a one-handed support for a plate and a beverage container that contains a horizontally oriented parallel upper and lower supports and a vertical member therebetween designed to be gripped with a hand. The upper and lower supports have circular front and rear sections with a narrow connecting portion therebetween wherein the vertical member is connected therebetween. The front section of the upper support is designed hold a plate of food. The rear sections each have an aperture therein defined to receive a beverage container and hold it in place. However, the Davis device is a separate holding device for a plate and beverage and does not disclose a plate with a hollow tubular base affixed to the underside of the plate.

Similarly, Published U.S. Patent Application Number 2004/0159660 to Cinque discloses a refreshment center for holding a plate and a beverage container. The Cinque device discloses a circular end designed to hold a plate and a second end with a hole. At least one L-shaped prong attached to the underside of the hole to receive and hold a beverage container. However, the Cinque device is also a separate holding device for a plate and beverage. Therefore, the Cinque device does not disclose a plate that is attached to a hollow tubular base designed to receive utensils or a beverage cup.

Published U.S. Patent Application Number 2007/0062937 to Davis discloses a kit for one handed support of a plate and beverage. The Davis device discloses a plurality of interlocking flat components that form the kit for one-handed support. The Davis device discloses a base with an upper and lower horizontally parallel supports with a hand-graspable connecting member therebetween upper and lower support. A portion of the lower support forms a first component of a beverage support. Further, the Davis discloses a second beverage support component that is designed to be inserted into the first component to form the beverage support. The Davis device additionally consists of a plate support member configured for placement on the upper support. However, the Davis device also discloses a separate holding device for a plate and beverage and not a plate attached to a tubular base, which provides a portion to be held and gripped.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,062,674 to Magee discloses a hand table for carrying a plate and a cup. The Magee device discloses an upper support having a generally circulate plate support and an opening to receive a cup or glass. The lower support is coupled to the upper support and has a generally inverted U-shaped handle portion with legs and foot members. The Magee device further discloses a cup support that extends from one of the foot members to directly below the opening to receive a cup or glass. However, the Magee device is a plate with a tubular base extending downwardly from the underside of the plate.

Finally, Published U.S. Patent Application Number 2007/0062938 to Davis discloses a collapsible one-handed support for a plate and a beverage container. The Davis device discloses parallel upper and lower horizontal supports that are connected therebetween by a vertical member graspable by hand. The Davis device is designed to fold into a stacked arrangement. The upper support has a front section sized to hold a plate and a rear section that has an aperture therein to receive a beverage container. The rear section of the lower support has a recess designed to hold the base of a beverage container. However, the Davis device does not disclose a plate having a central aperture in the well with a tubular base extending downwardly from the aperture.

The devices disclosed in the prior art have several known drawbacks. Devices in the prior art include those having a support for a plate and a beverage that includes a horizontally oriented, parallel upper and lower supports, and a vertical member therebetween designed to be gripped with a hand. Other devices disclose a bi-level support having a generally circular plate support, an opening to receive a cup or glass, and a handle member. However, these devices are limited to separate holding devices for a plate and beverage. The present invention overcomes these limitations by disclosing a plate that is designed to be handheld by the hollow tubular base, while also receiving a beverage cup or a set of utensils through the interior volume of the tubular base.

The present invention includes a plate and a hollow tubular base attached to substantially the center of the underside of the plate. The plate is substantially planar in shape and includes a well with an upstanding peripheral lip and underside. The well also includes a central aperture. A hollow tubular base is affixed downwardly from the underside of the plate. The hollow tubular base comprises a sidewall, an open upper end, a lower end and an interior volume. The open upper end is attach to the central aperture to allow items to be placed through the central aperture and into the interior volume of the tubular base.

It is therefore submitted that the present invention is substantially divergent in design elements from the prior art, and consequently it is clear that there is a need in the art for an improvement to plate and beverage support devices. In this regard, the instant invention substantially fulfills these needs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of plate and beverage holding devices now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a new and improved article holder with a hollow tubular base attached to the underside of a plate wherein the hollow tubular base is designed to receive therethrough a cup or a set of utensils.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a new and improved article holder that has all of the advantages of the prior art and none of the disadvantages.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved article holder that is designed to allow a user to securely hold a plate of food and a cup or a set of utensils while standing or sitting.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved article holder that includes a plate with an aperture and a hollow tubular base attached to the aperture on the underside of the plate.

Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved article holder wherein the hollow tubular base is designed to receive therethrough a set of utensils or a beverage cup for easy storing.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved article holder that is designed to decrease the volume of food placed within the well of the plate by coercing a user to place food within the well around the central aperture.

Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved article holder wherein the device may be readily fabricated from materials that permit relative economy and are commensurate with durability.

Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS

Although the characteristic features of this invention will be particularly pointed out in the claims, the invention itself and manner in which it may be made and used may be better understood after a review of the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein the numeral annotations are provided throughout.

FIG. 1 shows a cross sectional view of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows an overhead perspective of the present invention.

FIG. 3 shows a transparent perspective of the present invention supporting a beverage cup in an upright position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

References are made herein to the attached drawings. Like reference numerals are used throughout the drawings to depict like or similar elements of the article holder. For the purposes of presenting a brief and clear description of the present invention, the preferred embodiment will be discussed as used for holding a plate of food, a set of utensils, or a beverage cup. The figures are intended for representative purposes only and should not be considered to be limiting in any respect.

Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown a cross sectional view of the article holder 20. The holder 20 comprises a plate 21 and a hollow tubular base 22. The plate 21 comprises a well 24, an underside 23 and an upstanding peripheral lip 25. The well 24 is substantially planar and includes a central aperture 29. The tubular base 22 extends downward from the underside 23 of the plate 21 at the location of the central aperture 29. The tubular base 22 comprises a rounded sidewall 27, an open upper end 28, and a closed lower end 26 forming an open interior volume. The open upper end 28 is affixed to the underside 23 of central aperture 29 such that items can be placed through the central aperture 29 and into the open interior volume of the tubular base 22.

Hollow tubular base 22 is cylindrical in shape and includes an open upper end 28 affixed to the central aperture 29 and a closed lower end 26 forming an open interior volume. The open interior volume is designed to receive a set of utensils therethrough the upper end 28. In other embodiments, the open interior volume is also designed to partially receive therethrough a beverage cup. Hollow tubular base 22 is also configured to be gripped therearound by a user's hand to allow for easy handling and securing while walking, sitting or standing, especially when a table or tray is not readily available.

Both the plate 21 and the hollow tubular base 22 are preferably constructed from a thermoplastic or thermoset material for lightweight handling, rigidity, and resiliency. In this manner, the article holder 20 is reusable and does not have to be recycled after a single use. However, other embodiments are constructed of other suitable materials, including disposable or recyclable materials.

Referring now to FIG. 2, there is shown an overhead perspective view of the article holder 20. The plate 21 is substantially circular in shape and comprises a planar well 24. The plate 21 comprises a central aperture 29 along the well 24, a lip 25, and an underside. The well 24 is designed to support food or other items placed thereon, whereas the lip 25 is a peripheral barrier that prevents items thereon from slipping off the plate. The central aperture 29 is preferably circular in shape and is designed to provide access to the hollow tubular base 22. The peripheral edge of the upper end of tubular base 22 is affixed to the well 24 and aligned with the central aperture 29 thereof, wherein the hollow tubular base 22 extends downward therefrom. The central aperture 29 provides a throughway through the well 24 to insert or remove items in the tube 22. As can be recognized, the article holder 20 is particularly advantageous when a holder carries a plate and drink simultaneously. A set of utensils can be placed within the interior volume of the tubular base 22 without the fear of the utensils falling off the plate 21 while transporting the same.

In some embodiments, the interior volume is designed to partially receive a beverage cup therethrough and support a beverage cup in an upright position. In these embodiments, central aperture 29 may be slightly larger yet still circular in shape like the illustrated embodiment. Open upper end 28 correspondingly is slightly larger and sized to integrally attach with the central aperture 29. Hollow tubular base 22, in some embodiments, may have a decreasing radius moving downwardly from the open upper end 28 to the closed end 26.

The central aperture 29 is also designed to decrease the volume of food that can placed within the well 24 of plate 21. The area of well 24 is decreased by the area of central aperture 29, therefore, a user has to carefully place food around the central aperture 29 to prevent food from falling into the interior volume of tubular base 22. In this manner, a user is forced to ration his meals into smaller portions and thereby limits the concern for overeating. In other situations, if the user does not place a set of utensils or a beverage cup within the central aperture 29, items of food may be placed therethrough for easy storing. Some items of food such as meatballs can easily fall off plate 21, and such items, instead, can be placed in the interior volume of the tubular base 22 to prevent any items from rolling off the plate 21.

Referring now to FIG. 3, there is shown a transparent view of the article holder 20 supporting a beverage cup 30 in an upright position. The interior volume is designed to removably secure a beverage cup 30 by transition fit, wherein the beverage cup 30 is secured partially therethrough, however, not so securely that the beverage cup 30 cannot be separated. Most cups, especially recyclable ones, include a wider mouth and taper slightly to a thinner base. The interior volume of the tubular base 22 is designed to receive the thinner base and a bottom portion of the beverage cup 30. The tubular base 22 has a slightly larger opening than the base of beverage cup 30 to allow the beverage cup 30 to be inserted therethrough. However, as beverage cup 30 slightly widens to the mouth, the central aperture 29 is sized to prevent the beverage cup 30 from fully inserting therethrough. In this manner, a user can simultaneously carry a plate of food with his beverage using one hand.

It is therefore submitted that the instant invention has been shown and described in what is considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments. It is recognized, however, that departures may be made within the scope of the invention and that obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art. With respect to the above descriptions then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function, and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specifications are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention. 

I claim: 1) An article holder, comprising: a plate having a well, an upstanding peripheral lip, and a central aperture; wherein said plate is substantially planar; a tubular base extending downward from an underside of said plate; said tubular base having a rounded sidewall, an open upper end, a lower end, and an open internal volume; said open upper end affixed to said central aperture such that items can be placed through said central aperture and into said open internal volume of said tubular base. 2) The article holder of claim 1, wherein said aperture is substantially circular and in the center of the well. 3) The article holder of claim 1, wherein said lower end of said tubular base is closed. 4) The article holder of claim 1, wherein said tubular base is configured to removably receive therethrough a beverage cup therein and support a beverage cup in an upright condition. 5) The article holder of claim 1, wherein said central aperture and said tubular base are configured to removably secure a beverage cup by transition fit. 6) The article holder of claim 1, wherein said central aperture also configured to receive therethrough a set of utensils. 7) The article holder of claim 1, wherein said hollow tubular base further comprises a slightly decreasing radius extending downwardly from said upper end to said lower end. 